School Improvement, Self Evaluation and Disability Duties
Implementing Discrimination, Planning and Equality Duties should:
- Recognise and build on what is already in place – gradual and ongoing improvements
- Lead to improved outcomes for disabled children, young people and adults
- Be embedded within school self evaluation and the school improvement plan
- Involve everyone who is part of the school community
- Support curriculum and professional development
In Addition:
- Collaborative work with other agencies, partners and schools can help to minimise barriers
- Provision mapping can be a useful tool when evaluating the effectiveness of
Starting Point
- Who is disabled?
- Definition covers larger group than many people think
Disability Duties
Schools need to report annually on Access Plans/Equality Schemes and other aspects of DDA and SEN duties, in the school prospectus
Starting Point
- What is already in place?
- REF: Inclusion: Checking Your Evidence. Herts Framework for School Self-Evaluation
Discrimination Duties (2001)
Unlawful to discriminate
Discrimination occurs if:
- Pupil/prospective pupil treated less favourably for reason related to disability
- School fails, without justification, to make reasonable adjustments
- Applies to all aspects of school life
- Anticipatory – school needs to think ahead and remove or minimise barriers
Planning Duties (2001)
Requirement to make improvements, over time, to school access for disabled pupils
3 yearly plan, in writing, which makes improvements to:
- Curriculum access
- Physical environment to increase access
- Written materials accessible in range of different ways
First plans 1st April 2003 - 31st March 2006
Schools need to report annually on progress, in school prospectus
SEN Framework (2001)
- Provision of auxiliary aids and services
- Schools need to:
- Identify pupils with SEN
- Assess and put provision in place
- Monitor progress
- Schools need to “have regard” to the SEN Code of Practice
Equality Duties (Dec 06)
(Applies to disabled pupils, staff, parents/carers, governors, other disabled people who may use the school)
General Disability Equality Duty
Schools need to:
- Promote equality of opportunity and positive attitude
- Eliminate disability discrimination
- Eliminate disability – related harassment
- Encourage participation
- May involve treating disabled people more favourably
Specific Disability Equality Scheme (DES)
- Must prepare and publish scheme ( plan of action): Secondary December 06; Primary and Special December 07
- 3 yearly and must be in writing
- Must set out arrangements for gathering information, involve disabled people in the development of the scheme (pupils, staff parents,) and state how they have been involved
- State how impact will be assessed
- Implement the scheme
- Equality Scheme can build on Access Plan
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